Abstract: The present invention relates to parasite astacin metalloendopeptidase and filariid cysteine protease proteins, nucleic acid molecules having sequences that encode such proteins, antibodies raised against such proteins and compounds that can inhibit the activities of parasite astacin metalloendopeptidases or cysteine proteases. The present invention also includes methods to obtain such nucleic acid molecules, proteins, antibodies and inhibitors. The present invention also includes therapeutic compositions comprising such nucleic acid molecules, proteins, antibodies and inhibitors as well as their use to protect animals from disease caused by parasites, such as heartworm.

Abstract: The present invention relates to parasitic helminth thiol specific antioxidant (TSA) larval proteins; to parasitic helminth larval TSA nucleic acid molecules, including those that encode such TSA proteins; to antibodies raised against such TSA proteins; and to compounds that inhibit parasitic helminth larval TSA activity. The present invention also includes methods to obtain such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, antibodies, and inhibitory compounds. Also included in the present invention are therapeutic compositions comprising such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, antibodies and/or inhibitory compounds as well as the use of such therapeutic compositions to protect animals from diseases caused by parasitic helminths.

Abstract: The present invention relates to parasite astacin metalloendopeptidase and filariid cysteine protease proteins, nucleic acid molecules having sequences that encode such proteins, antibodies raised against such proteins and compounds that can inhibit the activities of parasite astacin metalloendopeptidases or cysteine proteases. The present invention also includes methods to obtain such nucleic acid molecules, proteins, antibodies and inhibitors. The present invention also includes therapeutic compositions comprising such nucleic acid molecules, proteins, antibodies and inhibitors as well as their use to protect animals from disease caused by parasites, such as heartworm.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated parasitic helminth nucleic acid sequences capable of hybridizing, under stringent conditions, to at least a portion of D. immitis nucleic acid sequence p4 and/or to at least a portion of D. immitis nucleic acid sequence p22U; to isolated parasitic helminth proteins that are encoded by such parasitic helminth nucleic acid sequences and that are capable of selectively binding to at least one component of immune serum capable of inhibiting helminth development; and to antibodies raised against such isolated parasitic helminth proteins. The present invention also relates to therapeutic compositions comprising such isolated nucleic acid sequences, proteins and/or antibodies. The present invention also includes methods to produce and use such nucleic acids, proteins, antibodies and therapeutic compositions capable of protecting animals from parasitic helminth infection and, particularly, from heartworm infection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to parasitic helminth macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) proteins; to parasitic helminth MIF nucleic acid molecules, including those that encode such MIF proteins; to antibodies raised against such MIF proteins; and to compounds that inhibit parasitic helminth MIF activity. The present invention also includes methods to obtain such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, antibodies, and inhibitory compounds. Also included in the present invention are therapeutic compositions comprising such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, antibodies and/or inhibitory compounds as well as the use of such therapeutic compositions to protect animals from diseases caused by parasitic helminths.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated parasitic helminth nucleic acid sequences capable of hybridizing, under stringent conditions, to at least a portion of D. immitis nucleic acid sequence p4 and/or to at least a portion of D. immitis nucleic acid sequence p22U; to isolated parasitic helminth proteins that are encoded by such parasitic helminth nucleic acid sequences and that are capable of selectively binding to at least one component of immune serum capable of inhibiting helminth development; and to antibodies raised against such isolated parasitic helminth proteins. The present invention also relates to therapeutic compositions comprising such isolated nucleic acid sequences, proteins and/or antibodies. The present invention also includes methods to produce and use such nucleic acids, proteins, antibodies and therapeutic compositions capable of protecting animals from parasitic helminth infection and, particularly, from heartworm infection.